Comments for The Sound of Rain http://soundofrain.net thoughts on the human experience Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:43:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 Comment on Just glad February is over by absurdbeats http://soundofrain.net/just-glad-february-is-over/comment-page-1/#comment-225 absurdbeats Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:43:37 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=511#comment-225 I look at my birthday as an excuse to not care about rules, be they about money or calories or time or whatever. It's my goddamned birthday, so piss off. Okay, so I wasn't that pugnacious on my birthday, but I do think that if it's supposed to matter (to whom? I dunno), I'm gonna do with it what I want. Indulge yourself, my sweet. Eat the cake, or not. Take the day, it's yours. I look at my birthday as an excuse to not care about rules, be they about money or calories or time or whatever.

It’s my goddamned birthday, so piss off.

Okay, so I wasn’t that pugnacious on my birthday, but I do think that if it’s supposed to matter (to whom? I dunno), I’m gonna do with it what I want.

Indulge yourself, my sweet. Eat the cake, or not. Take the day, it’s yours.

]]> Comment on The meaning of apocalypse by soundofrain http://soundofrain.net/the-meaning-of-apocalypse/comment-page-1/#comment-210 soundofrain Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:39:47 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=504#comment-210 @HauntedHarpsichord (god I love that name) - it must be something innate to human psychology - "this is working (even if only sort of), therefore any change is bad." Part of the problem with the changes that need to happen is that people can't imagine them, can't imagine what life would look like. It'll help a lot when some good marketing minds start working on that. I wouldn't be surprised if we did miss the Rapture, given that I don't think most of the people who believe they qualify for it, actually do. :) @HauntedHarpsichord (god I love that name) – it must be something innate to human psychology – “this is working (even if only sort of), therefore any change is bad.” Part of the problem with the changes that need to happen is that people can’t imagine them, can’t imagine what life would look like. It’ll help a lot when some good marketing minds start working on that.

I wouldn’t be surprised if we did miss the Rapture, given that I don’t think most of the people who believe they qualify for it, actually do. :)

]]> Comment on The meaning of apocalypse by soundofrain http://soundofrain.net/the-meaning-of-apocalypse/comment-page-1/#comment-209 soundofrain Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:36:58 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=504#comment-209 Oh, and regarding killer microbes - their devastation can *only* happen under the conditions we have now - worldwide urban crowding and lots and lots of high speed travel. Spanish flu only had something like a 2.5% kill rate, it's just that it infected almost half of everyone on earth. Most viruses come from animals, and are an animal-human adaptation on the part of the virus. That's why so many of them come from China, where people live very closely with poultry and pigs. The way we live brings about our catastrophes - that's my favorite thing of all. :) Oh, and regarding killer microbes – their devastation can *only* happen under the conditions we have now – worldwide urban crowding and lots and lots of high speed travel. Spanish flu only had something like a 2.5% kill rate, it’s just that it infected almost half of everyone on earth.

Most viruses come from animals, and are an animal-human adaptation on the part of the virus. That’s why so many of them come from China, where people live very closely with poultry and pigs. The way we live brings about our catastrophes – that’s my favorite thing of all. :)

]]> Comment on The meaning of apocalypse by soundofrain http://soundofrain.net/the-meaning-of-apocalypse/comment-page-1/#comment-208 soundofrain Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:32:08 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=504#comment-208 @absurdbeats - When I talk about major change and what *has* to happen, I'm talking about the shift away from a world based on non-renewable energy. It's going to be rocky. Whether it happens before we're ready for it, whether we handle it the way we want or are forced to play catch-up, depends on us, which is not a good thing since, as we all know, humans aren't great at long-term responsibility and taking care of each other. In a weird way, looking forward to a worldwide apocalypse is really optimistic on my part. It's the only hope we have to switch to a completely different paradigm. And overall, it's extremely unlikely that we'll get our collective act together, whatever happens - but if we're allowed to follow the path of inertia, we will. As to whether we're looking at corporatocracy or The Road, well, time will tell. @absurdbeats – When I talk about major change and what *has* to happen, I’m talking about the shift away from a world based on non-renewable energy. It’s going to be rocky. Whether it happens before we’re ready for it, whether we handle it the way we want or are forced to play catch-up, depends on us, which is not a good thing since, as we all know, humans aren’t great at long-term responsibility and taking care of each other.

In a weird way, looking forward to a worldwide apocalypse is really optimistic on my part. It’s the only hope we have to switch to a completely different paradigm. And overall, it’s extremely unlikely that we’ll get our collective act together, whatever happens – but if we’re allowed to follow the path of inertia, we will.

As to whether we’re looking at corporatocracy or The Road, well, time will tell.

]]> Comment on The meaning of apocalypse by absurdbeats http://soundofrain.net/the-meaning-of-apocalypse/comment-page-1/#comment-207 absurdbeats Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:33:35 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=504#comment-207 We've talked about this once or twenty times, so you know I share your interest. Still, I don't anything *has* to happen.Yeah, there have been apocalypsi? apocalypses [flaming dots exploding into the abyss]? throughout human history, some of which wiped out large portions of the human population. But the catastrophes seem to be precisely that: the emergence of a killer microbe or the appearance of a wayward meteor in a manner almost completely unforeseen. As to the killer microbes, yes, existing social conditions may have allowed for an easier spread, but the Spanish flu killed everyone, everywhere. That says more about the microbe than the condition. I tend to think that things will deteriorate, and that social, economic, and political life will become more brutal, more exploitative, and even cheaper than it already is. And here I swing back around toward semi-agreement with you: a lot of this deterioration is down to us, to the short-term and in-denial kind of decisions we have made and continue to make. But this doesn't mean, I think, that anything fundamental has to change: I think we humans are quite capable of continuing in our selfish ways, consequences to others be damned. I'm not even sure that less-than-catastrophic consequences to ourselves will lead us to change anything about how we relate to the natural world and to one another. In short, I think FutureWorld is more likely to look like China (corporate-authoritarian) than 'The Road.' That said, I have thought that a fine place to meet the End of the World would be at the Cathedral of St John the Divine---all of those high and sturdy columns tumbling down. And that St John the Divine is credited as the author of 'Revelations' makes it even more perfect. . . . We’ve talked about this once or twenty times, so you know I share your interest.

Still, I don’t anything *has* to happen.Yeah, there have been apocalypsi? apocalypses [flaming dots exploding into the abyss]? throughout human history, some of which wiped out large portions of the human population. But the catastrophes seem to be precisely that: the emergence of a killer microbe or the appearance of a wayward meteor in a manner almost completely unforeseen.

As to the killer microbes, yes, existing social conditions may have allowed for an easier spread, but the Spanish flu killed everyone, everywhere. That says more about the microbe than the condition.

I tend to think that things will deteriorate, and that social, economic, and political life will become more brutal, more exploitative, and even cheaper than it already is. And here I swing back around toward semi-agreement with you: a lot of this deterioration is down to us, to the short-term and in-denial kind of decisions we have made and continue to make.

But this doesn’t mean, I think, that anything fundamental has to change: I think we humans are quite capable of continuing in our selfish ways, consequences to others be damned. I’m not even sure that less-than-catastrophic consequences to ourselves will lead us to change anything about how we relate to the natural world and to one another.

In short, I think FutureWorld is more likely to look like China (corporate-authoritarian) than ‘The Road.’

That said, I have thought that a fine place to meet the End of the World would be at the Cathedral of St John the Divine—all of those high and sturdy columns tumbling down. And that St John the Divine is credited as the author of ‘Revelations’ makes it even more perfect. . . .

]]> Comment on Who do you want to be today? by vl http://soundofrain.net/who-do-you-want-to-be-today/comment-page-1/#comment-206 vl Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:16:58 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=473#comment-206 Hey soundofrain, I have no idea on how I arrived on this post, I am also sure I do not want to come back in my browser just to know how i did. Does not matter at all. I read it, and it talked to me. A lot. I am now in the situation you described, trying to find a sense, a purpose. You brough your little brick to that wall I am building now, as the one you built for yourself. Just wanted to let you know :) good luck! v Hey soundofrain,
I have no idea on how I arrived on this post, I am also sure I do not want to come back in my browser just to know how i did. Does not matter at all.

I read it, and it talked to me. A lot. I am now in the situation you described, trying to find a sense, a purpose. You brough your little brick to that wall I am building now, as the one you built for yourself.

Just wanted to let you know :)

good luck!
v

]]> Comment on The meaning of apocalypse by HauntedHarpsichord http://soundofrain.net/the-meaning-of-apocalypse/comment-page-1/#comment-204 HauntedHarpsichord Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:05:35 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=504#comment-204 Very well put. It's almost as if the world needs a "kickstart" or some type of revolution, one where we (re-)recognize that the planet and its inhabitants (man and all life) are important, and that there is so much more to happiness and success than just financial gain and wealth. Why do people not like change? People are almost encouraged to be "afraid" of new things and change. Especially in America, being a fairly young nation, we have a lot of change to go through, much of that change having already been accomplished by many of our elder neighbors/allies. How do we convince people to not be afraid and to embrace change (while also realizing that death is inevitable in the end)? By the way, damn, did we already miss the Rapture? Barreling toward the Apocalypse, I would hate to miss the wondrous sight of the Rapture! :> Very well put.
It’s almost as if the world needs a “kickstart” or some type of revolution, one where we (re-)recognize that the planet and its inhabitants (man and all life) are important, and that there is so much more to happiness and success than just financial gain and wealth.
Why do people not like change? People are almost encouraged to be “afraid” of new things and change. Especially in America, being a fairly young nation, we have a lot of change to go through, much of that change having already been accomplished by many of our elder neighbors/allies.
How do we convince people to not be afraid and to embrace change (while also realizing that death is inevitable in the end)?
By the way, damn, did we already miss the Rapture? Barreling toward the Apocalypse, I would hate to miss the wondrous sight of the Rapture! :>

]]> Comment on The meaning of apocalypse by freida http://soundofrain.net/the-meaning-of-apocalypse/comment-page-1/#comment-202 freida Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:25:41 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=504#comment-202 good stuff good stuff

]]> Comment on Post-Avatar depression by soundofrain http://soundofrain.net/post-avatar-depression/comment-page-1/#comment-199 soundofrain Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:41:40 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=458#comment-199 Yay! None of us can change the world by ourselves, but we all can do it together. As for vegetarian recipes and general advice, there are some great web sites out there - I'll put together a post on that, that's a good idea. Here's a good book to get started: http://www.amazon.com/Its-Easy-Being-Green-Earth-Friendly/dp/158685772X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264988271&sr=1-2 But again, all of this info is on the web - try www.treehugger.com, or this one: http://www.globalstewards.org/ecotips.htm Good luck! Yay! None of us can change the world by ourselves, but we all can do it together. As for vegetarian recipes and general advice, there are some great web sites out there – I’ll put together a post on that, that’s a good idea.

Here’s a good book to get started:

http://www.amazon.com/Its-Easy-Being-Green-Earth-Friendly/dp/158685772X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264988271&sr=1-2

But again, all of this info is on the web – try http://www.treehugger.com, or this one:

http://www.globalstewards.org/ecotips.htm

Good luck!

]]> Comment on Post-Avatar depression by Seriegubben http://soundofrain.net/post-avatar-depression/comment-page-1/#comment-198 Seriegubben Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:37:37 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=458#comment-198 You are so right. In my petty efforts to try and change the world, after I've seen Avatar (which completely blew me away) I've decided to become a vegetarian (cannot begin as of today since I can't get my hands on the cooking book about vegetarianism i want until thuseday). I've also tried t become more aware of how and what I'm consuming, as well as starting to train more seriously and try to live a more sound life. I try not to consume so much energy, and I would like to start reading about the topic at hand, about what's really happening to Earth and how we can make a change for real. If you have any tips on any good book on the topic, please let me know. Peace out! :) You are so right. In my petty efforts to try and change the world, after I’ve seen Avatar (which completely blew me away) I’ve decided to become a vegetarian (cannot begin as of today since I can’t get my hands on the cooking book about vegetarianism i want until thuseday). I’ve also tried t become more aware of how and what I’m consuming, as well as starting to train more seriously and try to live a more sound life. I try not to consume so much energy, and I would like to start reading about the topic at hand, about what’s really happening to Earth and how we can make a change for real. If you have any tips on any good book on the topic, please let me know.

Peace out! :)

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